News
Continental superintendent to leave: Leo submits letter of resignation, effective at end of school year
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| Dr. Gaye Leo |
By Kathy Engle, Special to the Green Valley News
Dr. Gaye Leo, superintendent of the Continental School District since July 2006, has resigned the position and will leave the district June 30, when her two-year contract is completed.
The staff at Continental was informed about Leo’s decision Monday and a letter will go out to parents this week, said Bonnie Klahr, governing board president, who expressed the board’s deep regret about Leo’s decision.
“The governing board appreciates that this was a difficult decision for Dr. Leo and is grateful that she made it in a timely fashion so that the Board has the opportunity to recruit a new superintendent to take over the district on July 1, 2008. The governing board wishes Dr. Leo the very best as she pursues her new adventures,” Klahr said.
Leo said she plans to return to Cave Creek to be near her sister and brother-in-law and where she owns a home with acreage for her two horses.
Leo, who is paid $90,000 a year at Continental, said money was not a factor in her decision. She said she made the choice to allow her daughter Rachelle, 16, to continue her studies in French and Chinese, which Rachelle presently studies at University High School in Tucson, involving a long commute for Leo, who starts her day at Continental School at 7:30 a.m.
Leo noted that she’s a single parent and that her brother-in-law in the Phoenix area serves as a father figure to Rachelle and Leo’s son, Nick, a student at ASU.
“Family first is my heartfelt commitment,” Leo wrote in her letter of resignation, adding that “I need the support from my family” in the Phoenix area.
Leo said she hasn’t yet begun her search for another job, but that she has many contacts in the Phoenix area from having served as a high school principal in Cave Creek, before coming to Continental. She also worked as an assistant deputy superintendent in Denver, Colo., and prior that principal of a middle school and elementary school after teaching English and speech for several years.
She has a doctorate in education from the University of Denver and earned her bachelor’s and master’s degree at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
“No words or emotions can express how honored I have been to be the top leader for our schools here in Green Valley,” she said. “I will continue in a consulting capacity throughout next school year to assure our new superintendent success. Great public schools happen because of teamwork.”
Klahr noted that under Leo’s tenure, Continental School District was designated for the first time as an “Excelling School” by the Arizona Department of Education. Prior to that, the school had been rated as “Highly Performing” for the past three years.
“The governing board thanks Dr. Leo for her leadership and the advances that she has made for the school district,” Klahr said.
Citing several of Leo’s accomplishments at the district, Klahr noted that the superintendent instituted a Teacher Appraisal System to upgrade teacher pay and professional development.
“She partnered with Pima County to provide the teachers with a comprehensive staff development program. She added art and technology to the curriculum to enhance the educational experience of our children,” Klahr continued.
“Additionally, Dr. Leo initiated governing board retreats where the board was able to focus on issues that affect the district. She was instrumental in creating a Strategic Plan for the district to facilitate long-range planning and goal development. She also designed and facilitated an instructional leadership team to communicate with all grade levels and classified staff weekly. These accomplishments will benefit the district in the years to come,” Klahr said.
Klahr described Leo as a “passionate, innovative, driven, fair, honest and forthright administrator.”
Leo said that the Continental School had an excellent reputation before she became superintendent and that its reputation as “the best little school in Arizona” will continue.
“Continental was a shining stone and I put some polish on it. That’s all it needed to be really stellar,” Leo said.
“This district will continue to move forward because it wants to be the best,” she added.
Klahr said the governing board will have a special meeting in the near future to consider several search companies to assist in hiring a new superintendent.
“The governing board and Dr. Leo will ensure that there is a smooth transition that will sustain the healthy educational environment that is, and always will be, Continental School,” Klahr said.
Continental School has 475 students enrolled, ranging from preschoolers to eighth grade. The district employs 26 teachers, 17 aides and another 15 employees in various capacities, including custodial and cafeteria work. The district prides itself on capping classes at 24 students to keep educational standards at a high level.
Kathy Engle is a freelance writer. Contact her at kdengle@earthlink.net. Comment on this story online at www.gvnews.com.
The staff at Continental was informed about Leo’s decision Monday and a letter will go out to parents this week, said Bonnie Klahr, governing board president, who expressed the board’s deep regret about Leo’s decision.
“The governing board appreciates that this was a difficult decision for Dr. Leo and is grateful that she made it in a timely fashion so that the Board has the opportunity to recruit a new superintendent to take over the district on July 1, 2008. The governing board wishes Dr. Leo the very best as she pursues her new adventures,” Klahr said.
Leo said she plans to return to Cave Creek to be near her sister and brother-in-law and where she owns a home with acreage for her two horses.
Leo, who is paid $90,000 a year at Continental, said money was not a factor in her decision. She said she made the choice to allow her daughter Rachelle, 16, to continue her studies in French and Chinese, which Rachelle presently studies at University High School in Tucson, involving a long commute for Leo, who starts her day at Continental School at 7:30 a.m.
Leo noted that she’s a single parent and that her brother-in-law in the Phoenix area serves as a father figure to Rachelle and Leo’s son, Nick, a student at ASU.
“Family first is my heartfelt commitment,” Leo wrote in her letter of resignation, adding that “I need the support from my family” in the Phoenix area.
Leo said she hasn’t yet begun her search for another job, but that she has many contacts in the Phoenix area from having served as a high school principal in Cave Creek, before coming to Continental. She also worked as an assistant deputy superintendent in Denver, Colo., and prior that principal of a middle school and elementary school after teaching English and speech for several years.
She has a doctorate in education from the University of Denver and earned her bachelor’s and master’s degree at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
“No words or emotions can express how honored I have been to be the top leader for our schools here in Green Valley,” she said. “I will continue in a consulting capacity throughout next school year to assure our new superintendent success. Great public schools happen because of teamwork.”
Klahr noted that under Leo’s tenure, Continental School District was designated for the first time as an “Excelling School” by the Arizona Department of Education. Prior to that, the school had been rated as “Highly Performing” for the past three years.
“The governing board thanks Dr. Leo for her leadership and the advances that she has made for the school district,” Klahr said.
Citing several of Leo’s accomplishments at the district, Klahr noted that the superintendent instituted a Teacher Appraisal System to upgrade teacher pay and professional development.
“She partnered with Pima County to provide the teachers with a comprehensive staff development program. She added art and technology to the curriculum to enhance the educational experience of our children,” Klahr continued.
“Additionally, Dr. Leo initiated governing board retreats where the board was able to focus on issues that affect the district. She was instrumental in creating a Strategic Plan for the district to facilitate long-range planning and goal development. She also designed and facilitated an instructional leadership team to communicate with all grade levels and classified staff weekly. These accomplishments will benefit the district in the years to come,” Klahr said.
Klahr described Leo as a “passionate, innovative, driven, fair, honest and forthright administrator.”
Leo said that the Continental School had an excellent reputation before she became superintendent and that its reputation as “the best little school in Arizona” will continue.
“Continental was a shining stone and I put some polish on it. That’s all it needed to be really stellar,” Leo said.
“This district will continue to move forward because it wants to be the best,” she added.
Klahr said the governing board will have a special meeting in the near future to consider several search companies to assist in hiring a new superintendent.
“The governing board and Dr. Leo will ensure that there is a smooth transition that will sustain the healthy educational environment that is, and always will be, Continental School,” Klahr said.
Continental School has 475 students enrolled, ranging from preschoolers to eighth grade. The district employs 26 teachers, 17 aides and another 15 employees in various capacities, including custodial and cafeteria work. The district prides itself on capping classes at 24 students to keep educational standards at a high level.
Kathy Engle is a freelance writer. Contact her at kdengle@earthlink.net. Comment on this story online at www.gvnews.com.
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